Accountability and Transparency Review
30 April 2010
Objectives of the review 'Ensuring accountability, transparency and the interests of global Internet users':
ICANN commits to maintain and improve robust mechanisms for public input, accountability, and transparency so as to ensure that the outcomes of its decision-making will reflect the public interest and be accountable to all stakeholders by:
- continually assessing and improving ICANN Board of Directors (Board) governance which shall include an ongoing evaluation of Board performance, the Board selection process, the extent to which Board composition meets ICANN's present and future needs, and the consideration of an appeal mechanism for Board decisions;
- assessing the role and effectiveness of the GAC and its interaction with the Board and making recommendations for improvement to ensure effective consideration by ICANN of GAC input on the public policy aspects of the technical coordination of the DNS;
- continually assessing and improving the processes by which ICANN receives public input (including adequate explanation of decisions taken and the rationale thereof);
- continually assessing the extent to which ICANN's decisions are embraced, supported and accepted by the public and the Internet community; and
- assessing the policy development process to facilitate enhanced cross community deliberations, and effective and timely policy development.
Integral to the foregoing reviews will be assessments of the extent to which the Board and staff have implemented the recommendations arising out of the other commitment reviews enumerated below.
Timeline of review
- First review to be concluded no later than December 31st 2010
- Further reviews to be conducted no less frequently than every three years
